Chris Said:

Surgery for Carpal Tunnel?

We Answered:

I would say talk to your parents but at your age I would hate to have had a surgery all ready. There are many techniques out there that can help with such conditions and keep you away from going under the knife. Here is an article that I found very interesting on carpal tunnel:

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
Ross Hauser, M.D.


A recent report out of Sweden says that in a study of the general population of that country, 14% of Swedes suffer from chronic wrist pain, and 2% can be diagnosed as having Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Now if those same results hold true in the U.S., then it can be estimated that 5 million people have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and that some 37 million people suffer from chronic wrist pain. Not so fast says the University of Michigan School of Public Health who questioned the study's results. Researchers there say that the Swedish study was using electrical conductivity tests that may have skewed the tests to show higher positive pain results.

Additionally the Swedish study said women were four times more likely to have the problem than men, and overweight people were more than twice as likely to have chronic wrist pain.

So who do you believe? Well if you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome you believe yourself because you are the one in pain!


We all know where Carpal Tunnel Syndrome comes from: Pressure, damage, or repeated injury to the median nerve at the wrist. We all also know that wrist surgery has limited and widely varying degrees of success in treating it. Women are more likely to have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome because it has been linked to pregnancy, PMS, and menopause. Where typing at a keyboard is also a major factor, this one time realm of women office workers is now nearly equally shared by men as the number of computer related jobs increase among the male population.


Other factors for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome include rheumatoid arthritis, renal failure, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.


Unfortunately, many patients with elbow and hand pain have been misdiagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. A typical Carpal Tunnel Syndrome patient will experience pain and numbness in the hand. Because most physicians do not know the referral pain patterns of ligaments, they do not realize that cervical vertebrae 4 and 5 and the annular ligament can refer pain to the thumb, index, and middle fingers. Ligament laxity can also cause numbness. Cervical and annular ligament laxity should always be evaluated prior to making a diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome should not be done until an evaluation is performed by a physician who understands the referral problems of ligaments and is experienced in Prolotherapy.

Seldom do patients find relief from "Carpal Tunnel" complaints of pain in the hand and elbow with physical therapy and surgery because the diagnosis is wrong. The most common reason for pain in the elbow referring pain to the hand is weakness in the annular ligament, not from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Several sessions of Prolotherapy will easily strengthen the annular ligament and relieve chronic elbow pain.

Darren Said:

Had nerve conduction study today & doc says carpal tunnel syndrome the worst he's seen in someone my age.?

We Answered:

I would see no reason why you would need to do a second NCV study...it is what it is and I encourage the second opinion.

Best wishes.

Adrian Said:

Is it necessary to get Physical Therapy after Carpal Tunnel Surgery?

We Answered:

Physical therapy would have been helpful. What you can do now is ice when it hurts, 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off, give or take. Something that will be more helpful is to take a tennis ball, or something about that size and squeeze it for about 3 minutes. Do this about 3 times a day. After a few days do it for 4 minutes, then 5 minutes. Another exercise that may be helpful is to take a 1 or 2 lb weight, maybe slightly heavier, depending on your condition, with your palm facing down, move your wrist in towards your stomach 30 times, then the opposite way 30 times, turn your arm over and move your wrist up 30 times. Do this 3 times a day as well. Ice when you're finished. These 2 exercises should help you stregthen and eventually hopefully have the pain go away.

Karl Said:

Anyone ever had microscopic surgery for carpal tunnel?

We Answered:

I had that surgery.
Mine felt like that for awhile, but not that long. It might justs be that different people have different healing times. Def. See whatthe Dr. says.

Felicia Said:

Does anyone know how to get rid of carpal tunnel syndrome.?

We Answered:

Ice it every night on both sides of the wrist and wear a wrist splint. You may also want to see an occupational therapist or someone who only specializes in hand therapy to get a more complete diagnosis and treatment options to consider before surgery. talk to a doc about these options.

Tony Said:

Lose of use of my right hand after carpal tunnel surgery, why?

We Answered:

Not sure why it's happening, but I might know of something that may help. Nikken makes Elastomag wrist wrap, which have been shown in a double blind placebo study to help with carpal tunnel. Though I haven't heard of it with the wrist wrap, I've heard that the Elastomag wraps are also good for bringing feeling back to an area. Let me know if you'd like more info.